Canucks facing doubters ahead of 2nd
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — The Vancouver Canucks have dealt with skeptics all season, and those doubters are following the team into its second-round playoff series against the Edmonton Oilers.
“I love being doubted,” Vancouver head coach Rick Tocchet said Tuesday, a day before the Canucks host Connor McDavid and the Oilers in the opening game of the best-of-seven series.
Vancouver wasn’t favored to make the playoffs, even after spending much of the regular season hovering around the top of the NHL standings. Some expected the Canucks to fall apart in the first round, yet Vancouver eliminated the Nashville Predators in six games.
Edmonton is favored over Vancouver in the second-round matchup, too, according to BetMGM.
That’s just fine by Tocchet.
“I think we kind of like that underdog role,” the coach said. “And I think players should embrace it. I really do.”